Rocking baby crib

Abstract

To provide a rocking baby crib with a simple structure, high strength, the ability to stably rock the bed section up and down, and the ability to manufacture it lightly and inexpensively. [Solution] The bed comprises a bed section 12 that serves as a sleeping place for infant B, a base section 14 provided below the bed section 12, and a rocking mechanism 16 attached to the base section 14 that supports the bed section 12 so that it can rock up and down. The rocking mechanism 16 has a bed section fixing member 20 to which the bed section 12 is fixed, and lifting members 20a(1) and 20a(2) located below the bed section fixing member 20. It also includes a guide member 36 that guides the lifting and lowering of the lifting members 20a(1) and 20a(2), and a biasing member 30 that biases the lifting members 20a(1) and 20a(2) upward. The bed section 12 is held in a predetermined position by the biasing force of the biasing member 16, and when an external force is applied in the vertical direction, it vibrates vertically around the predetermined position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a rocking baby bed used when putting a baby to sleep, etc.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, a baby bed is proposed in which a bed placement table is provided horizontally, one of a guide for lifting and lowering and a vertical slide post passing through the guide is provided on a base, and the other is provided on the bed placement table, and the bed placement table is lifted and lowered while maintaining its horizontal level via a horizontal output shaft of a motor fixed to the base.

[0003] In addition, as disclosed in Patent Document 2 by the inventor of the present application, a rocking baby bed provided so as to be manually rockable in the vertical direction using a parallel crank mechanism has been proposed. Furthermore, using this parallel crank mechanism, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, a rocking baby bed that can stably and automatically rock the bed portion in the vertical direction for a long time using power has also been proposed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the case of the baby crib described in Patent Document 1, although the bed part moves vertically, the biasing force that causes it to swing up and down cannot be adjusted, and as the infant's weight increases, the range of vertical swing narrows, making it difficult to use. Consequently, the infant gradually has more trouble falling asleep, the usable period is short, and the structure is complex and costly.

[0006] In contrast, the rocking baby cribs disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3 have a mechanism that rocks almost vertically, which has little effect on the infant's posture and is equipped with a variable biasing force device. However, because the up-and-down motion is in an arc shape due to the parallel link mechanism, the up-and-down motion involves forces in both the vertical and horizontal directions, which may not be desirable for the infant to fall asleep. Moreover, the parallel link mechanism has a complex structure, and maintaining its strength results in increased weight and cost.

[0007] This invention was made in view of the problems of the background technology described above, and aims to provide a rocking baby crib that has a simple structure, high strength, can stably rock the bed part in the vertical direction, and can be manufactured lightly and inexpensively. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention relates to a rocking baby bed comprising a bed section that serves as a sleeping place for an infant, a base section provided below the bed section, and a rocking mechanism attached to the base section that supports the bed section so as to be able to rock up and down. The rocking mechanism consists of a bed section fixing member to which the bed section is fixed, a lifting member located below the bed section fixing member, a guide member that guides the lifting and lowering of the lifting member, and a biasing member that biases the lifting member upward. The bed section is held in a predetermined position by the biasing force of the biasing member, and when an external force is applied in the vertical direction, it vibrates vertically around the predetermined position.

[0009] The system includes a buffer member that cushions the downward movement of the rocking mechanism, and a confirmation member that confirms the vertical reference position of the bed when the infant is lying on the bed.

[0010] The bed section is equipped with a variable biasing force device that adjusts the position of the bed section by adjusting the force applied from the biasing member to the rocking mechanism according to the weight of the infant. With the infant lying on the bed section, the variable biasing force device can be operated to receive the biasing force from the biasing member and maintain the position of the bed section at the reference position, which is the center of vertical vibration. The guide member is preferably used to grip the lifting member and guide its vertical movement.

[0011] The bed section has a drive device that drives the rocking mechanism, the drive device comprising a motor and a rotating member attached to the rotation shaft of the motor, and the bed section rocks up and down by the rotation of the rotating member.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferable that the bed portion or the bed portion fixing member be provided with a cover portion that covers the base portion. In addition, it is preferable that a speaker or sliding member, which is a sound source that generates the sounds of the womb to be heard by the infant, be attached to the bed portion or its vicinity. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The rocking baby crib of the present invention has a simple structure, high strength, can stably rock the bed in the vertical direction, and can be manufactured lightly and inexpensively. Furthermore, by using power, the bed can be automatically rocked stably in the vertical direction for a long period of time with a simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a rocking baby crib according to the first embodiment of this invention. [Figure 2] This is a front view showing the internal structure of the rocking baby crib in this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a front view showing the rocking baby crib in use according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of a rocking baby crib according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a front view showing the internal structure of the rocking baby crib in this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] The embodiments of this invention will now be described below with reference to the drawings. Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the first embodiment of this invention, in which the rocking baby crib 10 comprises a bed section 12 which serves as a sleeping place for infant B, a base section 14 provided below the bed section 12, and a rocking mechanism 16 attached to the base section 14 which supports the bed section 12 so that it can rock.

[0016] The rocking mechanism 16 consists of a pair of bed fixing members 20, a shaft member 22, a rocking shaft 24, a pair of rocking members 26, a pair of connecting members 28, and a biasing member 30. The biasing member 30 consists of an elastic member such as a coil spring 32 and a biasing force variable device 34. The configuration of each member will be described in order below. In this description, the head side of infant B in Figure 3 will be referred to as the front side, the foot side of infant B as the rear side, the right hand side of infant B as the right side, and the left hand side of infant B as the left side.

[0017] The bed section 12 has a bottom surface 12a on which a mattress or the like is placed, and side surfaces 12b are provided to surround the bottom surface 12a, and may be integrally molded from, for example, synthetic resin. A cloth cover section 18, which is a covering section that covers the base section 14, is provided at the lower end of the bed section 12. The cloth cover section 18, which is a covering section, may be attached to a pair of bed fixing members 20.

[0018] The base portion 14 is composed of a housing 40 which is a frame member formed by arranging a plurality of frame members in a rectangular parallelepiped lattice. The front, rear, left, and right side surfaces of the housing 40 are blocked by side plates 39 as shown in FIG. 3. As a result, the swing mechanism 16 is not visible from the outside due to the cloth cover portion 18 and the side plates 39. Through holes 43, which are confirmation members for viewing the inside of the base portion 14, are provided at predetermined positions on the side plates 39 and the cloth cover portion 18 that covers the side plates 39. The through holes 43 are for confirming that, when looking inside from there, the mark 33, which is a confirmation member described later, coincides with the through holes 43 and is visually recognized, so that the swing member 26 is substantially horizontal and the position of the bed portion 12 is at a reference position which is the center position of the vertical vibration.

[0019] In the housing 40, a swing shaft 24 is provided so as to penetrate in the left - right direction at substantially the central portions of the two front vertical frames 40f(1), 40f(2) of the housing 40. Below the rear vertical frames 40r(1), 40r(2), 40r(3) of the housing 40, a biasing force variable device 34 is attached. The biasing force variable device 34 is composed of a coil spring attachment member 42, a male screw member 44, support beams 46, 47, and a handle 48. Further, casters 41 are attached to the four corners of the lower surface of the housing 40.

[0020] The coil spring attachment member 42 is arranged with its columnar main body horizontal, a hook 42a for hooking one end of the coil spring 32 is provided on the front surface, and a female screw hole 42b penetrating in the front - rear direction is provided at the central portion of the main body. The male screw member 44 has a male screw provided on its circumferential surface and is inserted and screwed into the female screw hole 42b of the coil spring attachment member 42. The male screw member 44 is provided longer than the distance between the coil spring attachment member 42 and the support beams 46, 47 that pivotally support the male screw member 44.

[0021] The support beam 46 is a frame material that rotatably supports the base end of the male screw member 44. One end is fixed near the lower end of the vertical frame 40r(2), and the other end is fixed near the lower end of the vertical frame 40r(3), which is provided between the vertical frame 40r(1) and the vertical frame 40r(2). Between the coil spring mounting member 42 and the support beam 46, another support beam 47 is provided, which is fixed to the housing 40. The male screw member 44 passes through the support beam 47 and is also rotatably supported by the support beam 47. The support beam 47 is parallel to the support beam 46, and both ends of the support beam 47 are fixed to the lower ends of a pair of vertical frames 40c(1) and 40c(2), which are provided between the vertical frames 40f(1) and 40f(2) and the vertical frames 40r(1) and 40r(2).

[0022] The handle 48 is an operating member for rotating the male screw member 44 around its axis, and is attached to the base end of the male screw member 44. When the handle 48 is turned to rotate the male screw member 44, the coil spring mounting member 42, which is screwed onto the male screw member 44, moves forward or backward. The male screw member 44 may be provided to be slightly longer than the distance between the coil spring mounting member 42 and the support beam 47, or it may be provided to be a length that protrudes slightly from the support beam 47 and does not reach the support beam 46.

[0023] Below the bed section 12, there are bed section fixing members 20(1) and 20(2), which are frame members to which the lower surface of the bed section 12 is fixed. One of the bed section fixing members 20(1) is a substantially T-shaped frame body having a vertical member 20a(1) and a horizontal member 20b(1). The other bed section fixing member 20(2) is also a frame body of the same shape having a vertical member 20a(2) and a horizontal member 20b(2). The pair of bed section fixing members 20(1) and 20(2) are arranged symmetrically and are connected by horizontal frames 50, 52, and 54 to form a single unit. Furthermore, an axis member 22 is provided penetrating in the left-right direction near the lower ends of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2). Both ends of the shaft member 22 are fitted into the elongated holes 26a at the tip of the oscillating member 26, which will be described later. The elongated holes 26a have a long axis along the longitudinal direction of the oscillating member 26, and both ends of the shaft member 22 are movably engaged in the direction of that long axis.

[0024] A pair of guide members 36 are provided on the front, back or left, and right sides of each of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2), which are lifting members located below the bed fixing members 20(1) and 20(2), respectively. The guide members 36 are fixed to the horizontal frames 40t(1) and 40t(2) on the top side of the housing 40, respectively, and support each of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) in the vertical direction, holding them so that they can move up and down freely. They are composed of linear guides, roller members, members with good sliding properties, etc. Each pair of guide members 36 faces each other vertically and clamps each of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2), enabling vertical sliding and preventing horizontal shaking. Furthermore, a plate material with fine irregularities made of FRP or the like may be fixed to the surfaces of the guide member 36 or the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) that are in contact with each other. This makes it possible to generate a sliding sound that mimics the sounds of the womb that infants like when the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) move up and down.

[0025] The rocking member 26 and the connecting member 28 of the rocking mechanism 16 are integrally connected and fixed to each other by a reinforcing member 38, and the rocking member 26 and the connecting member 28 are provided as a pair of members of the same shape. Furthermore, the pair of rocking members 26 are connected by horizontal frames 58, 60, and the pair of connecting members 28 are connected by horizontal frame 62 to form an integral structure. The pair of rocking members 26 and the connecting member 28, and the pair of vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) are connected by the shaft members 22 at the lower ends of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) fitting into the elongated holes 26a of the rocking member 26. In addition, hooks 62a for hooking one end of a coil spring 32 are provided on the rear surface of the lower end of the connecting member 28 or on both ends of the horizontal frame 62.

[0026] The oscillating member 26 has its front end pivotally attached to the oscillating shaft 24, and its rear end engages with the end of the shaft member 22 through an elongated hole 26a, connecting the bed section fixing members 20(1) and 20(2) to the housing 40. A mark 33 for confirming the reference position is provided on the end face of the rear end of the oscillating member 26, through the through-hole 43 of the side plate 39 and the cloth cover section 18. The mark 33 may also be provided on the horizontal frame 58, or its end face may be painted in a conspicuous color.

[0027] The biasing member 30 has one end of a coil spring 32 connected to a hook 42a of the biasing force variable device 34, and the other end connected to the lower end of the connecting member 28 or a hook 62a provided on the horizontal frame 62. By its own contraction force, it pulls the lower end of the connecting member 28 toward the coil spring mounting member 42, biasing the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2), which are lifting members, upward. The bed section 12 stops at a position where the force pushing the bed section fixing members 20(1) and 20(2) downward by the bed section 12 against this biasing force (such as the weight of infant B or the weight of the bed section 12 itself) balances out.

[0028] The oscillating mechanism 16 is an interlocking mechanism consisting of an oscillating member 26 pivotally supported on the housing 40 and vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2). The oscillating member 26 and the connecting member 28 oscillate around the oscillating axis 24, while the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) move linearly up and down in the vertical direction by the guide member 36, causing the bed section 12 to oscillate linearly up and down.

[0029] Below the rear ends of the pair of oscillating members 26, the movable parts 80a of a pair of dampers 80, which are buffer members, are mounted facing upward. When the oscillating members 26 oscillate downward around the pivot axis 24 due to the dampers 80, the tips of the oscillating members 26 come into contact with the movable parts 80a of the dampers 80, causing the bed section 12 to descend slowly. The dampers 80 are set to have an appropriate stroke so that they exert their buffering function when the bed section 12 has descended below the reference position.

[0030] Each of the horizontal members 20b(1) and 20b(2) of the pair of bed fixing members 20 is provided with two plungers 82 each, for a total of four plungers 82 that detachably lock the bed section 12. Furthermore, it is preferable to attach a speaker (not shown) near the bed section 12. This allows the infant B, who is lying in the bed section 12, to hear fetal sounds such as the sound of umbilical cord blood in the mother's womb, thereby providing comfort.

[0031] Next, the method of using the rocking baby crib 10 will be described. First, the bed section 12 of the rocking baby crib 10 in this embodiment is attached to the bed fixing member 20 by the plunger 82, and bedding such as a mattress, sheet, and blanket is placed inside the bed section 12, and the infant B is laid on its side as shown in Figure 3. In this state, the rocking axis 24 is set to a position where the weight of the baby B, the bed section 12 including the bedding, and the bed fixing member 20 is balanced by the biasing force of the coil spring 32, and the rocking axis 24 is horizontal. Position adjustment is performed by operating the handle 48 to rotate the male screw of the biasing force variable device 34 and adjust the tension of the coil spring 32. Confirmation that the resting position of the bed section 12 coincides with the approximately horizontal reference position of the oscillating member 26 is performed by looking inward through the through-holes 43 provided in the cloth cover section 18 and the side plate 39. When the bed section 12 is in the reference position, the mark 33 provided on the end face of the oscillating member 26 is visible to coincide with the through-holes 43.

[0032] If the biasing force of the coil spring 32 is too weak, the resting position will be lower than the reference position, and the amplitude of the bed section 12 will increase. When the bed section 12 moves to the upper or lower limit position, an impact is applied to the bed section 12, so smooth free vibration is not achieved, and a smooth and comfortable swaying motion cannot be obtained. On the other hand, if the biasing force of the coil spring 32 is too strong, the resting position will be higher than the reference position, the amplitude of the bed section 12 will be small, and the swaying will not be smooth. Therefore, in order to obtain an appropriate swaying motion, the biasing force is adjusted appropriately according to the weight of the infant B being used by the biasing force variable device 34 and set to a predetermined biasing force so that the resting position is at the reference position.

[0033] The bed section 12 of the rocking baby crib 10 is raised and lowered manually, and the bed section 12 is held in an appropriate position and rocked up and down. The amplitude of the vertical swing can be adjusted as appropriate, approximately 10 to 15 cm. The manual up and down movement of the bed section 12 allows it to rock smoothly up and down, calming the infant B and making it easy to put them to sleep. By simultaneously rocking the bed section 12 and playing womb sounds such as umbilical cord blood sounds to the infant B lying in the bed section 12 through a speaker, the infant B can be put to sleep even more effectively and quickly. In addition, by providing a plate material with fine irregularities made of FRP or the like on the surface of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) that the guide member 36 contacts, a sliding sound similar to womb sounds that infants like is generated when the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) are raised and lowered, the infant may fall asleep quickly.

[0034] The rocking baby crib 10 has restricted upper and lower limit positions for the bed section 12 for the safety of the infant B. The upper limit position of the bed section 12 is locked by a stopper member, such as a guide member 36, which is a member that the rocking member 26 abuts against. The lower limit position of the bed section 12 is restricted by the lower surface of the bed section 12 abutting against the base section 14 (housing 40). The distance between the upper limit position and the lower limit position is set as appropriate, for example, about 15 cm, and if the amplitude of one vertical swing of the bed section 12 is about 10 cm, a 5 cm play can be provided.

[0035] According to this embodiment of the rocking baby crib 10, the rocking mechanism 16 can be manually operated to easily generate vertical rocking motions, making it easy to induce sleep in infant B. Moreover, it has a simple structure, is lightweight, and is easy to move to different locations. Furthermore, since this rocking baby crib 10 is equipped with a biasing force variable device 34, the biasing force of the coil spring 32 can be adjusted to an optimal value according to the weight of infant B, and the rocking motion can be maintained in an optimal state even as the weight of infant B increases. The biasing force of the coil spring 32 can be easily adjusted to a reference position by viewing the mark 33 through the through-hole 43 of the lifting member.

[0036] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. The rocking baby crib 90 of this embodiment comprises a bed section 12 having the same configuration as in the above embodiment, a base section 14 provided below the bed section 12, and a rocking mechanism 16 attached to the base section 14 that supports the bed section 12 so that it can rock. The rocking mechanism 16 consists of a pair of bed fixing members 20, a shaft member 22, a rocking shaft 24, a pair of rocking members 26, a pair of connecting members 28, and a biasing member 30. The biasing member 30 consists of an elastic member such as a coil spring 32 and a biasing force variable device 34.

[0037] Below the bed section 12, there are bed section fixing members 20(1) and 20(2), which are frame members to which the lower surface of the bed section 12 is fixed. The pair of bed section fixing members 20(1) and 20(2) are arranged symmetrically and are connected by horizontal frames 50, 52, and 54 to form a single unit. Furthermore, a shaft member 22 is provided penetrating in the left-right direction near the lower ends of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2). Both ends of the shaft member 22 are fitted into elongated holes 26a having a long axis along the longitudinal direction at the tip of the oscillating member 26, and are provided to be movable in the long axis direction.

[0038] A pair of guide members 36 are provided on the front, back or left, and right sides of each of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2), which are lifting members located below the bed fixing members 20(1) and 20(2), respectively. The guide members 36 support each of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) in the vertical direction and hold them so that they can move up and down. They are made of linear guide roller members or members with good sliding properties, and they face each other vertically, clamping each of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) to enable vertical sliding and prevent horizontal shaking. Furthermore, a plate material with fine irregularities made of FRP or the like may be fixed to the surfaces of the guide members 36 or the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) that are in contact with each other. This makes it possible to generate a sliding sound that mimics the sounds of the womb that infants like when the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) move up and down.

[0039] The oscillating member 26 and the connecting member 28 of the oscillating mechanism 16 are integrally connected and fixed to each other by a reinforcing member 38, and are connected to a pair of vertical members 20a(1), 20a(2) and to the shaft member 22 and the oscillating member 26 by an elongated hole 26a. The oscillating member 26 is connected to horizontal frames 58, 60, and the connecting member 28 is connected to horizontal frame 62 and is integrally constructed. The horizontal frame 62 is provided with a hook 62a on its rear surface for hooking one end of the coil spring 32. The front end of the oscillating member 26 is pivotally attached to the oscillating shaft 24, and the rear end engages with the end of the shaft member 22 by an elongated hole 26a, connecting the bed section fixing members 20(1), 20(2) and the housing 40.

[0040] The biasing member 30 has one end of a coil spring 32 connected to a hook 42a of the biasing force variable device 34, and the other end connected to the lower end of the connecting member 28 or a hook 62a provided on the horizontal frame 62. By its own contraction force, it pulls the lower end of the connecting member 28 toward the coil spring mounting member 42, biasing the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2), which are lifting members, upward. The bed section 12 stops at a position where the force pushing the bed section fixing members 20(1) and 20(2) downward by the bed section 12 against this biasing force (such as the weight of infant B or the weight of the bed section 12 itself) balances out.

[0041] The oscillating mechanism 16 is an interlocking mechanism consisting of an oscillating member 26 pivotally supported on the housing 40 and vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2). The oscillating member 26 and the connecting member 28 oscillate around the oscillating axis 24, while the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) move linearly up and down in the vertical direction by the guide member 36, causing the bed section 12 to oscillate linearly up and down.

[0042] In this embodiment, the rocking baby crib 90 has a motor 70, which is a drive device for moving the rocking mechanism 16, provided between the vertical frame 40r(1) and the vertical frame 40c(1). A transmission member 68, which is a drive device, is provided between the motor 70 and the rocking mechanism 16. The transmission member 68 has a rotating shaft 72 that is provided in a substantially horizontal direction and rotated by the motor 70, and a disc 74 attached to the rotating shaft 72. The disc 74 is positioned such that its surface 74a is substantially parallel to the rocking member 26 and the rotating shaft 72 is perpendicular to it. The surface 74a is on the opposite side from the motor 70, and two protrusions 76 are formed on the surface 74a. The protrusions 76 are provided adjacent to the peripheral edge of the disc 74 and are 180° apart from each other.

[0043] The horizontal frame 58, to which the pair of rocking members 26 of the rocking mechanism 16 are fixed, is provided with a push-up rod 78, which is an engaging part that rests on the upper side of the projection 76 and moves upward as the disc 74 rotates. The push-up rod 78 is provided substantially parallel to the surface 74a of the disc 74 with a small gap and along a substantially horizontal direction. One end is fixed to the horizontal frame 54, and the opposite end is located between the peripheral edge of the disc 74 and the rotation axis 72. The lower corner of the tip of the push-up rod 78 is chamfered to form a sliding surface 78a. When the projection 76 is located horizontally to the rotation axis 72 and close to the horizontal frame 54, the push-up rod 78 rests on the upper side of the projection 76. The disc 74 rotates in a direction in which the side edge closest to the horizontal frame 54 rises due to the motor 70. As the disc 74 rotates, the push-up rod 78 rests on the projection 76 and rises with the rotation of the disc 74. When the projection 76 passes diagonally above the axis of rotation 72, the push-up rod 78 separates from the projection 76 and falls. The tip of the disc 74 has a sliding surface 78a with a chamfered lower corner, which allows it to fall smoothly from the projection 76.

[0044] Below the rear ends of the pair of oscillating members 26, the movable parts 80a of a pair of dampers 80, which are buffer members, are mounted facing upward. The dampers 80 cause the push-up rod 78 to fall away from the circularly moving projection 76, and as the oscillating members 26 rotate around the pivot axis 24 and descend, the tip of the oscillating member 26 comes into contact with the movable part 80a of the dampers 80, causing the bed section 12 to descend slowly. The dampers 80 are set to have an appropriate stroke so that they exert their buffering function when the bed section 12 has descended below the reference position.

[0045] Each of the horizontal members 20b(1) and 20b(2) of the pair of bed fixing members 20 is provided with two plungers 82 each, for a total of four plungers 82 that detachably lock the bed section 12. Furthermore, a speaker (not shown) is attached near the bed section 12. When a switch (not shown) that rocks the bed section 12 is turned on, the speaker may be used to allow the infant B, who is lying on the bed section 12, to hear fetal sounds such as the sound of umbilical cord blood in the mother's womb.

[0046] Next, the method of using the rocking baby crib 10 will be explained. First, the bed section 12 is attached to the bed fixing member 20 by the plunger 82, bedding such as a mattress, sheets, and blankets are placed inside the bed section 12, and the infant B is laid on its side as shown in Figure 3. Then, the rocking shaft 24 is set to a position where the weight of the bed section 12 and bed fixing member 20, including the infant B and bedding, is balanced by the biasing force of the coil spring 32, with the projection 76 of the drive unit's disc 74 not in contact with the push-up rod 78, or no torque is applied from the motor 70. The horizontal position is adjusted by operating the handle 48 to rotate the male screw of the biasing force variable device 34 and adjust the tension of the coil spring 32. If the bed section 12 is higher than the reference position, the coil spring mounting member 42 is moved closer to the front, i.e., to the side frame 62, to weaken the biasing force. If the bed section 12 is lower than the reference position, the coil spring mounting member 42 is moved to the rear, that is, away from the lateral frame 62, to increase the biasing force. Confirmation that the resting position of the bed section 12 coincides with the reference position is made by looking at the confirmation mark 33 on the inside through the through hole 43 provided in the cloth cover section 18 and the side plate 39. When the bed section 12 is in the reference position, this is visually confirmed when the mark 33 provided on the end face of the oscillating member 26 coincides with the through hole 43.

[0047] Next, when a switch (not shown) is turned on and the motor 70 is activated, the disc 74 rotates due to the motor 70, the push-up rod 78 is pushed up by the projection 76, and the bed fixing member 20 and the bed section 12 rise from the reference position shown by the dashed line. As the disc 74 rotates further and the projection 76 separates from the oscillating mechanism 16, the push-up rod 78 detaches from the projection 76, and the bed fixing member 20 and the bed section 12 descend toward the reference position due to their own weight. At this time, the oscillating member 26 oscillates downward, and the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) are guided by the guide member 36, causing the bed section fixing members 20(1) and 20(2) to move stably downward in the vertical direction, and the bed section 12 maintains its horizontal position and descends linearly without tilting.

[0048] When the bed section 12 descends, the connecting member 28 and the horizontal frame 62 move away from the coil spring mounting member 42, causing the coil spring 32 to stretch and descend slowly. The bed section 12 descends below the reference position, but the damper 80 smoothly stops the descent. Therefore, the biasing member 30 also has a cushioning function and serves as a cushioning member. Furthermore, as the coil spring 32 stretches, a contraction force acts on the connecting member 28 and the oscillating member 26 via the horizontal frame 62. Then, as it rises again from the lower limit of the swing, the motor 70 continues to rotate the disc 74 at a predetermined speed, and as the oscillating member 26 rises, the push-up rod 78 engages with the next projection 76 again and is raised. As a result, the oscillating member 26 rotates upward, the bed section fixing members 20(1) and 20(2) move upward, and the bed section 12 rises.

[0049] The bed section 12 swings up and down by repeating the above operation. The amplitude of one up and down swing is approximately 10 to 15 cm, and the time for one up and down stroke is, for example, 1.6 seconds. When there are two projections 76 that rotate due to the motor 70, it is preferable that the up and down swing period of the bed section 12 due to the free vibration of the bed 12 biased by the coil spring 32 matches half the rotation period of the disc 74. That is, it is preferable that the period for raising the bed section 12 by the drive device matches the period when the bed 12 biased by the coil spring 32 is freely vibrated with an infant lying on it. This enables energy-saving and smooth up and down movement.

[0050] The smooth vertical rocking motion of the bed section 12 can soothe infant B and make it easy to put him to sleep. By simultaneously rocking the bed section 12 and playing fetal sounds such as umbilical cord blood sounds to infant B lying in the bed section 12 through a speaker, infant B can be put to sleep even more effectively and quickly. In addition, by providing a plate material with fine irregularities made of FRP or the like on the surface of the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) that the guide member 36 contacts, a sliding sound similar to fetal sounds that infants like can be generated when the vertical members 20a(1) and 20a(2) move up and down, allowing the infant to fall asleep quickly.

[0051] In the motor-driven rocking baby crib 90, the upper and lower limits of the bed section 12 are also restricted for the safety of the infant B. The lower limit of the bed section 12 is restricted by the lower surface of the bed section 12 contacting the upper end of the base section 14 (housing 40), similar to the embodiment described above. The distance between the upper and lower limits is set as appropriate, for example, about 15 cm, and if the amplitude of one vertical swing of the bed section 12 is about 10 cm, a 5 cm clearance can be provided.

[0052] In this embodiment of the rocking baby crib 90, the bed section 12 is supported by a simple rocking mechanism 16 and a guide member 36, allowing it to move stably up and down vertically, and the motor 70 can smoothly rock it up and down using the weight of the infant B. The biasing member 30 of the rocking mechanism 16 and the motor 70 allow it to rock continuously at predetermined intervals, reducing the workload of the caregiver. Moreover, it has a simple structure, is lightweight, operates quietly, and is easy to maintain.

[0053] Furthermore, since this rocking baby crib 10 is equipped with a biasing force variable device 34, the biasing force of the coil spring 32 can be adjusted to an optimal value according to the weight of the infant B, and it can be rocked in an optimal state even if the weight of the infant B increases. Adjusting the biasing force of the coil spring 32 is also easy.

[0054] It should be noted that the rocking baby crib of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The base portion can be any structure capable of supporting the bed portion by attaching the rocking mechanism, and is not limited to a structure in which the side portion of the housing is covered with a side plate. The rocking mechanism can be any structure that moves the bed portion in the vertical direction, and the shape of each component can be freely changed. The member that supports the bed portion may be a structure in which the bed portion fixing members 20, 20(1), 20(2) of the above embodiment are placed on the floor surface, the housing 40 is positioned above, and the bed portion 12 is fixed to the housing 40. In this case as well, it can be moved up and down in the vertical direction in the same way.

[0055] The configuration of the biasing member can also be changed as appropriate. For example, the elastic member of the biasing member described above is a coil spring, but it may be replaced with a stretchable elastic rubber or the like. Also, the biasing member currently uses the contraction force of the coil spring to bias the biasing frame towards the vertical frame, but it may be changed to a configuration that uses the elastic force of the compression coil spring to bias the biasing frame back towards the vertical frame. Furthermore, means other than plungers may be used to fix the bed section. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 10,90 Rocking baby crib 12 Bed section 14. Base 16. Oscillating mechanism 18 Fabric cover section 20,20(1),20(2) Bed section fixing member 20a(1), 20a(2) Vertical members (lifting members) 22 Shaft member 24. Oscillating axis 26. Oscillating member 26a long hole 28 Connecting member 30 biasing member 32. Coil spring (elastic component) 34. Variable biasing force device 36 Guide member 36 38 Reinforcement members 40 cabinets 40f(1), 40f(2), 40r(1), 40r(2), 40c(1), 40c(2) Vertical Frame 42 Coil spring mounting section 42a Hook 42b Female screw hole 43 Throughpores 44 Male screw member 46,47 Support beam 48 handle 40t(1), 40t(2), 50, 52, 54, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66 Horizontal frame 56(1), 56(2) Bracing frame 68 Transmission member 70 Motor 72 Rotation axis 74 discs 74a surface 76 Protrusion 78 Push-up rod 80 Damper 80a Moving part 82 Plungers B Infant

Claims

1. The device comprises a bed section that serves as a sleeping place for an infant, a base section provided below the bed section, and a rocking mechanism attached to the base section that supports the bed section so that it can swing up and down. The rocking mechanism comprises a bed fixing member to which the bed is fixed, a lifting member located below the bed fixing member, a guide member that guides the lifting and lowering of the lifting member, and a biasing member that biases the lifting member upward. The bed section is held in a predetermined position by the biasing force of the biasing member, and when an external force is applied in the vertical direction, it vibrates vertically around the predetermined position, characterized in that it is a rocking baby crib.

2. The rocking baby bed according to claim 1, further comprising a buffer member for buffering the downward movement of the rocking mechanism, and a confirmation member for confirming the vertical reference position of the bed when the infant is lying on the bed.

3. The bed section is equipped with a biasing force variable device that adjusts the force applied from the biasing member to the rocking mechanism in accordance with the weight of the infant, thereby adjusting the position of the bed section. The rocking baby bed according to claim 2, wherein, with an infant lying on the bed, the position of the bed is maintained at the reference position, which is the center of vertical vibration, by operating the biasing force variable device and receiving a biasing force from the biasing member.

4. The rocking baby bed according to claim 2, wherein the cushioning member is a damper to which the rocking mechanism can contact.

5. The rocking baby bed according to claim 4, having a drive device for driving the rocking mechanism, the drive device comprising a motor and a rotating member attached to the rotating shaft of the motor, and the bed portion rocks up and down by the rotation of the rotating member.

6. The rocking baby bed according to claim 4, wherein the bed portion or the bed portion fixing member is provided with a cover portion that covers the base portion, and a sound source that generates womb sounds to be heard by the infant is attached to the bed portion or its vicinity.

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